About Light Up the Holidays in Downtown Boulder

Every year, Downtown Boulder's holiday season begins with Santa flipping the switch that illuminates lights along the Pearl Street Mall and around the Boulder County Courthouse during Switch on the Holidays. This year, the Downtown Boulder Business Improvement District will decorate trees along the pedestrian mall with over 35,000 LED bulbs and 300 colorful lighted ornaments! The lights will shine bright until just after the new year.

While Santa's elves are busy at the North Pole, he and Mrs. Claus carve out time each Saturday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. (this year between November 28 and December 19) to visit kids of all ages at the Downtown Boulder Visitor Information Center during St. Nick on the Bricks. Cameras are strongly encouraged for holiday photo ops!

Keeping the small town charm of holidays gone by, the Lights of December Parade (December 5) features no big balloons floating high in the sky, but instead dozens of adorable kids (and adults) dressed in costumes, high school marching bangs and homemade floats celebrating community. This is Boulder, so the parade wouldn't be complete without cyclists, swing dancing elves and more!

On Saturday, November 28, downtown will join small businesses across the country to celebrate, Small Business Saturday®. Celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, it’s a day dedicated to helping support the small businesses that help to create jobs, boost the economy, and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Look for merchant discounts and special holiday themed events throughout downtown.